System for managing encounters in a virtual world environment

1. Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the invention relate to the use of immersive virtual environments. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to avoiding specific users of an immersive virtual environment.

2. Description of the Related Art

A virtual world is a simulated environment which users may inhabit and in which the users may interact with virtual objects and locations of the virtual world. Users may also interact with one another via avatars. An avatar generally provides a graphical representation of an individual within the virtual world environment. Avatars are usually presented to other users as two or three-dimensional graphical representations of humanoids. Frequently, virtual worlds allow for multiple users to enter and interact with one another. Virtual worlds provide an immersive environment as they typically appear similar to the real world, with real world rules such as gravity, topography, locomotion, real-time actions, and communication. Communication may be in the form of text messages sent between avatars, real-time voice communication, gestures displayed by avatars, symbols visible in the virtual world, and the like.

Virtual worlds may be persistent. A persistent world provides an immersive environment (e.g., a fantasy setting used as a setting for a role-playing game, or a virtual world complete with land, buildings, towns, and economies) that is generally always available, and world events happen continually, regardless of the presence of a given avatar. Thus, unlike more conventional online games or multi-user environments, the virtual world continues to exist, and plots and events continue to occur as users enter (and exit) the virtual world.

One embodiment of the invention includes a computer-implemented method. The method generally includes: receiving navigational input for moving an avatar of a user through a virtual world; responsive to the navigational input, moving the avatar through the virtual world; during movement of the avatar through the virtual world, determining information relating to possible encounters with one or more other avatars the user desires to avoid encountering; the information being determined according to predefined user-avoidance criteria specific to the user; and providing the information to the user.

Another embodiment of the invention includes a computer-readable storage medium including a program, which when executed on a processor performs an operation. The operation may generally include: receiving navigational input for moving an avatar of a user through a virtual world; responsive to the navigational input, moving the avatar through the virtual world; during movement of the avatar through the virtual world, determining information relating to possible encounters with one or more other avatars the user desires to avoid encountering; the information being determined according to predefined user-avoidance criteria specific to the user; and providing the information to the user.

Still another embodiment of the invention includes a system having a processor and a memory. The memory may store a program, which when executed by the processor, is configured to perform the steps of: receiving navigational input for moving an avatar of a user through a virtual world; responsive to the navigational input, moving the avatar through the virtual world; during movement of the avatar through the virtual world, determining information relating to possible encounters with one or more other avatars the user desires to avoid encountering; the information being determined according to predefined user-avoidance criteria specific to the user; and providing the information to the user.